~ Reclaim the streets for people who cycle and walk

Mayor of London 2016-2020

On May 5th 2016, Londoners voted Sadiq khan as the new Mayor of London

We live in a democracy that values free speech and everyone wants to be represented. However politicians have consistently failed to take leadership on London’s car problem.

This is why I stood as an Independent Mayoral candidate, to open up the debate on private car use and propose a radical change in how we allocate space on our streets.

I will continue campaigning for a more liveable, breathable London.

I hope Sadiq Khan holds to his promise to expand car-free areas across the city.

My Mayoral candidate statement:

The health and economic impact of cars in London is immense

Cars are a major cause of illegal air pollution in London, killing 9,400 per year and permanently stunting the growth of children. Some small diesel cars have been found to be emitting the same Nitrogen Dioxide as a bus or HGV. This is a full blown public health crisis but not once has any Mayor of London, called for the banning of diesel cars in our city.

London is now officially the most congested city in Europe. The economic cost of congestion is estimated to be in the region of 8.5 billion per year. Growing car use is unsustainable and affecting the quality of life of all Londoners. Journey times are unreliable and the time wasted stuck in traffic makes the city inefficient and stagnant.

There were 30,785 casualties as a result of road collisions in Greater London in 2014. Every death or injury is a failure of a civilised society. Hit-and-runs are occurring with increasing frequency, creating a sense of lawlessness on the streets. (80 motorist hit-and-runs per week in 2014) Many people feel severed from their community by dangerous roads.

The public health crises of inactivity, obesity and type 2 diabetes threaten our ability to sustain an NHS system, free at the point of entry. 1 in 6 are dying from inactivity, half of Londoners are obese or overweight and 1 in 10 in Newham and Brent have diabetes. Car owners are statistically the most likely to be inactive.

The CEO of NHS England has already said obesity will bankrupt the NHS. This means longer waiting times and a reduction in services across the NHS. We know that diabetes type 2, obesity and inactivity are preventable and can be reversed by lifestyle changes such as walking and cycling.

Cars contribute a significant and growing proportion of greenhouse emissions. In order to cut CO2 emissions to sustainable levels, car use must be radically reduced. Viable environmentally friendly alternatives such as cycling, walking and public transport can make this transition possible.

Vast areas of land in London are currently allocated to cars, both in transit and parked. 6.8 million car parking spaces in London take up a minimum of 78.5 km sq. And with the average car parked 95% of the time, this is economically illiterate use of prime land. When housing is in crisis we need to seriously review how we allocate space in London.

I believe it is imperative to make safe space on our roads for walking and cycling. This is literally self-empowerment for a healthier future

My key policies are

Ban diesel in London

Ban private cars in central London

Prioritise active travel like walking and cycling

Create a car-free cycling network across Greater London

24hr road pricing throughout Greater London

Reclaim car parks as brownfield sites for social housing

Make solar power integral to new builds

Rationalise freight and commercial vehicles, capping PHVs and Taxis

Plant 1 million trees

I believe these policies will

Save time

Save money

Unlock space

Improve quality of life

Create social cohesion

Increase self-empowerment

Reduce inequality

Cities around the world are waking up to the cost of cars in an urban environment. In 2015 Dublin, Madrid and Oslo announced plans to go car-free in their city centres to reduce pollution, congestion and cut greenhouse emissions. We too can lead London into a brighter future, by making our streets for people rather than cars.

May 22nd 2015

Rosalind Readhead

Today I am announcing that I will be standing as an independent candidate for the Mayor of London in 2016. I have been campaigning via my website banprivatecarsinlondon.com for a sea change in the way transport is organised on the streets of London.

Only radical reform will transform our city from a polluted, congested and dangerous space for people living, working and visiting here to a liveable city where people can breathe.

Private cars are the least economically viable mode of transport in urban areas. This is why I want to prioritise safe walking, protected inclusive cycling, accessible clean and low-priced public transport and electric sharing taxis.

I would also like to free up the vast quantities of land used for parking. Private cars, on average, are parked 95% of the time. There are approximately 6.8 million parking spaces in London (Transport Statistics User Group 2001) which, based on the minimum parking space per vehicle, take up an astonishing 78.5 km sq.

When housing is in crisis in our city, we need to seriously re evaluate how space is allocated. I would like to designate car parks as brownfield sites, to house key workers at reasonable rents, linked to their jobs in the vicinity.

From the City-centre outwards we can change the car culture of London to create a liveable city where children are free to roam once again without the fear of road danger.